Calibrated, low-profile magnetic sensor
First Claim
1. A calibrated, low-profile magnetic sensor, wherein said magnetic sensor comprises:
- a magnetic sensing device formed within a housing, wherein said magnetic sensing device comprises at least one magnet;
a compact integrated circuit package, wherein a magnetic sensing element is mounted to said compact integrated circuit package; and
a printed circuit board having a hole formed therein, wherein said compact integrated circuit package is surface mounted off-center on said printed circuit board so that said hole is located within said printed circuit board to receive said at least one magnet, thereby permitting said magnet to pass through said hole to complete a magnetic circuit thereof.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A calibrated, low-profile magnetic sensor and method for forming such a sensor are described herein. Generally, a magnetic sensing device is formed within a housing, wherein the magnetic sensing device comprises at least one magnet. The magnetic sensor includes a compact integrated circuit package such as, for example, a small outline integrated circuit package (SOIC). A magnetic sensing element is generally mounted to the compact integrated circuit package. The magnetic sensing device can be configured to additionally incorporate a printed circuit board (PCB) having a hole formed therein such that the compact integrated circuit package can be surface mounted off-center on the printed circuit board, so that the hole can be located within the printed circuit board to match a shape of the magnet, allowing the magnet to pass through the circuit board adjacent to the SOIC to complete the magnetic circuit. An orifice placed with in the housing permits a tool to be passed through the orifice within the housing to contact the magnet. The magnet can be placed in the optimum position for calibration of the magnetic circuit thereof. The same orifice that is used for calibrating the position of the magnet can also be utilized as an injection port for encapsulating the device using an injection epoxy dispensing process.
76 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A calibrated, low-profile magnetic sensor, wherein said magnetic sensor comprises:
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a magnetic sensing device formed within a housing, wherein said magnetic sensing device comprises at least one magnet;
a compact integrated circuit package, wherein a magnetic sensing element is mounted to said compact integrated circuit package; and
a printed circuit board having a hole formed therein, wherein said compact integrated circuit package is surface mounted off-center on said printed circuit board so that said hole is located within said printed circuit board to receive said at least one magnet, thereby permitting said magnet to pass through said hole to complete a magnetic circuit thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A calibrated, low-profile magnetic sensor, said magnetic sensor comprising:
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a magnetic sensing device formed within a housing, wherein said magnetic sensing device comprises at least one magnet;
a compact integrated circuit package, wherein a magnetic sensing element is mounted to said compact integrated circuit package; and
a printed circuit board having a hole formed therein, wherein said compact integrated circuit package is surface mounted off-center on said printed circuit board so that said hole is located within said printed circuit board to receive said at least one magnet, thereby permitting said magnet to pass through said hole to complete a magnetic circuit;
wherein said housing comprises an orifice wherein a tool is permitted to pass through said orifice within said housing to contact said at least one magnet to position said at least one magnet to a calibrated position thereof and wherein said orifice is adapted for use with an epoxy to encapsulate and seal said magnetic sensing device.
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18. A method for forming a magnetic sensor, said method comprising the steps of:
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forming a magnetic sensing device within a housing, wherein said magnetic sensing device comprises at least one magnet;
mounting a magnetic sensing element to a compact integrated circuit package; and
forming a hole within a printed circuit board, wherein said compact integrated circuit package is surface mounted off-center on said printed circuit board so that said hole is located within said printed circuit board to receive said at least one magnet, thereby permitting said magnet to pass through said hole to complete a magnetic circuit thereof. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for forming a calibrated, low-profile magnetic sensor, said method comprising the steps of:
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forming a magnetic sensing device within a housing, wherein said magnetic sensing device comprises at least one magnet;
mounting said magnetic sensing device to a compact integrated circuit package; and
forming a hole within a printed circuit board, wherein said compact integrated circuit package is surface mounted off-center on said printed circuit board so that said hole is located within said printed circuit board to match a shape of said at least one magnet, thereby permitting said magnet to pass through said hole to complete a magnetic circuit;
configuring said housing to comprise an orifice wherein a tool is permitted to pass through said orifice within said housing to contact said at least one magnet to position said at least one magnet to a calibrated position thereof; and
adapting said orifice for use with an epoxy injection dispensing process to encapsulate and seal said magnetic sensing device.
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Specification